Enchanted Woman Meets Monarchs: A Royal Encounter at Buckingham Palace

A woman from Gosport was present alongside royalty at Buckingham Palace where The King and Queen honoured local cancer charities with a special reception.

Charles and Camilla were accompanied by the Duchess of Gloucester at the event, where they met with campaigners, charity workers, and people affected by cancer, including several who have used their own struggles as a basis for strong advocacy.

Present at the event was Claire McKay, aged 42, hailing from Gosport, who received a diagnosis of stage one ovarian cancer approximately ten years prior.

After her diagnosis, she became involved with the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, doing a charity skydive for the charity in 2015 before becoming more involved.

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Claire, who works for Hampshire County Council, now does patient advocacy across the country, sharing her experiences with medical professionals and others to raise awareness of Ovarian cancer.

She remarked, "It was incredible. There are these instances where you pause and think, 'I'm really here and I’m making this happen.'"

"It was really lovely. Everybody had that sort of charity thing in common. Both the King and Queen spent a lot of time talking to everybody.

They wandered around the crowded space for almost two hours. It was completely jam-packed.

"We talked to the King about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. He seemed very shocked that there is no effective early screening method.

"It reminded me how important all the work charities do and how there is an impact."

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Inside the palace (Image: Target Ovarian Cancer)

Claire attended alongside a man whose mother had been an advocate for the charity and had recently passed away.

Early symptoms for Ovarian cancer include persistent bloating, feeling full/lack of appetite, pelvic or abdominal pain and urinary symptoms.

Claire added: "It was very clear this was something that was important to them because it is close to their experience at the moment.

"You really felt they were interested in what you were talking about.

We aren't doing this for accolades, but it’s pleasing to receive acknowledgment and keep the charity as our focus.

The monarch and his consort also had encounters with delegates from various charitable organizations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s, Children’s Hospice South West, along with other groups providing grassroots assistance for individuals impacted by cancer, offering them not only practical help but emotional backing too.